I finished with honors from a good State University. I carry a Bachelor of Arts degree in Interdisciplinary Arts and acquired a honorarium for my division. For the last 15 years or so, I have worked professionally as an actor, writer and music performer.
For fifteen years I’ve never been asked more than twice about my college degree.
College is fun and possessing a degree was never a hindrance for me to pursue my dreams. Nonetheless, you can’t help but ask the query about whether it is worth it or not.
College degrees do not value that much in the music business except if you are into classical music. Of course, this does not hold much weight in the rock, hip-hop, and pop class. If you are looking for work as a session musician, going to a well-regarded music school doesn’t hurt. Nevertheless it’s all going to come down to how well you play, and more frequently than not, who you know.
A college degree from a well-regarded theater school such as Julliard or A.C.T might be helpful in securing an agent. However such a college degree will be completely secondary to the impact you make with your presence and your audition. When it comes to really getting jobs as an actor degrees are about as helpful as flotation devices on a plane that’s going down. You can assure yourself with it but what matters most are the steps you take at present.
My college degree hardly mattered even as a specialist writer. I mean it’s listed on the resume that I use to attain work. Back in the days, the girl who was my boss must has inquired about it. But writing, like acting and music, largely comes down to your performance, and who you know.
If I had it to carry out all over again will I get a college degree? Perhaps not. I worked in a film alongside a very talented guy and he was just 19 years old at that time. He just finished high school and has made a decision to move to Los Angeles a few days after he acquired his high school diploma. He’d been working in advertisements before I met him and after the movie we did together he went on to book a starring role in a network sitcom. After a number of episodes he is still with the TV show. Certainly, bypassing college was a right decision after all.
It’s great to have a college degree. In another line of employment a college degree can act as proof of your capacity to do big things. On the other hand, a college degree might keep you from landing huge roles during the most marketable years of your life, this is in fact true especially when it comes to the entertainment industry.
